General meeting and AGM March 2024

Lorraine Day who has published a biography and a compilation of Gordon’s poetical works, Gordon of Dingley Dell: the Life of Adam Lindsay Gordon, poet and horseman, gave us a fascinating insight into Gordon’s character and life.
After arriving in Port Adelaide in late 1853 at the age of 20, Gordon became known for his daring equestrian exploits. He was a member of the Mounted Police for some time and was stationed at Penola, but found the discipline of the Police too restrictive, and left after a short time to pursue horse breaking as a career. In 1862, he met Margaret Park, whom he married shortly thereafter. He and his wife lived at Dingley Dell near Mount Gambier from 1864 to 1867 and during that time he was a member of South Australia’s 4th Parliament for eighteen months (1865-1866).
They later moved to Ballarat where Gordon established a livery business and joined the Ballarat troop of the Light Horse. Gordon rode in the Ballarat races, and in October 1868 he rode three winners at Flemington.
Despite his increasing literary success as a poet, Gordon suffered terribly from melancholia, contributed to by the death of his ten-month-old daughter, mounting debts and injuries from a number of falls from horses. Sadly, Gordon took his own life in mid-1870.